The Daily Word of Righteousness

Three Major Phases, #2

Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God that he hath given thee. (Deuteronomy 16:16,17)

There were three times each year when the Hebrew men were to gather together before the Lord. The three times were as follows:

The feast of Unleavened Bread. The feast of Weeks (Pentecost). The feast of Tabernacles.

The week of Unleavened Bread began with the slaying of the Passover Lamb. It included the celebration of the Firstfruits of the barley harvest.

The feast of Weeks is known to us more commonly as Pentecost—an Anglicized form of a Greek word related in meaning to the number "fifty." The feast of Weeks came a week of weeks (seven weeks) after the high Sabbath of Unleavened Bread. Forty-nine days elapsed, and on the fiftieth day the assemblage of Pentecost was called.

The week of Tabernacles occurred during the seventh month. The seventh month (Tishri ) commenced with a memorial day announced by the blowing of Trumpets. The Blowing of Trumpets was followed on the tenth day of the month by the solemn Day of Atonement.

The feast of Tabernacles was celebrated from the fifteenth through the twenty-first day of this seventh month, with an eighth day of rejoicing (Simchat Torah) occurring on the twenty-second day.

The three convocations, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and Tabernacles, constitute one of the most significant types of the plan of redemption to be found in the Scripture.

There are three major phases of the Divinely provided redemption that is in Christ. The three phases are not like three rungs on a ladder we are to climb or three grades in school we are to attain. Rather, the three phases are as three facets of one diamond.

They are three dimensions of the one redemption that we possess, entire and whole, when we receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior.

The three areas of our redemption are pictured in the Scriptures in a number of ways, in addition to the three feasts of Israel, and these portrayals enable us to gain additional insight:

The Outer Court, Holy Place, and Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle of the Congregation (Exodus 40:18-30). The three divisions of the journey of the Israelites, which were the exodus from Egypt, the wilderness wandering, and the entrance into the land of promise. The water to the ankles, knees, and loins (Ezekiel 47:3-5).

The hundredfold, sixtyfold, and thirtyfold (Matthew 13:8). The fruit, more fruit, and much fruit (John 15:2-5). The three stories of Noah's Ark (Genesis 6:16).

The three means of overcoming Satan: the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony, and loving not our life to the death (Revelation 12:11). The three "days" (Hosea 6:2; Luke 13:32). The manifestation of Christ's glory on the third day (John 2:1-11). The three testings of Christ (Luke 4:1-13). The three "cities" in which the saints are overcome: Sodom, Egypt, Jerusalem (Revelation 11:8).

Be alert as you study the Scriptures for events that had to do with a three-day period of time (Joshua 1:11; Nehemiah 2:11; Exodus 19:15; Jonah 1:17; and so forth).

Christ rose from the dead on the third day.

To be continued.